How to say "adequate" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- i-adjectiveCovers 'adequate' in the sense of appropriate or fitting for a person, role, or occasion. It stresses suitability rather than sufficiency, as when judging whether something is worthy of or matches the situation.君にふさわしいはずはないのだから。↗He couldn't be good for you.
- 十分じゅうぶんna-adjectiveCovers 'adequate' as 'enough, sufficient' — the quantity or degree meets what is needed. This is the most everyday choice when the point is simply that something suffices, e.g. adequate time, money, or rest.
- 適当てきとうna-adjective, nounCovers 'adequate' as suitable or proper. It is often the casual everyday word for something that fits the purpose, but in relaxed speech it can also imply doing things only roughly or half-heartedly, so context matters.
- 相応そうおうna-adjective, no-adjective, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers 'adequate' as befitting or appropriate to one's position, age, or standing. It is really about matching status or circumstances rather than sufficiency, so it seldom expresses plain 'enough'.
- 満足まんぞくna-adjective, nounCovers 'adequate' as satisfactory or acceptable — enough to meet requirements or expectations. It is really the word for satisfaction; for plain 'enough', 十分 is usually the word you want.
Use 十分 for 'enough, sufficient', 「ふさわしい」 for 'fitting, appropriate (to the person or occasion)', 適当 for 'suitable, proper' (often casual), 相応 for 'befitting one's status', and 満足 for 'satisfactory, acceptable'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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